Charleston police search for man who groped woman, struck her with car outside West Ashley gas station today

Charleston police are asking for the public’s help in finding a man wanted for grabbing a woman’s buttocks at a West Ashley gas station and striking her with his vehicle early this morning,

The incident occurred around 1 a.m. at the BP gas station at 644 Wantoot Boulevard, police said.

Police said the incident played out this way:

The man grabbed the buttocks of the victim. When she confronted him about his actions, he got defensive and upset.

The victim got on her bike and began to leave the area when the suspect drove away in his car and struck her, knocking her off of the bike. The victim reported hearing the engine accelerate before the car hit her.

The suspect then turned his vehicle around and fled the area towards Savannah Highway.

The suspect was described a light-skinned black man, 30 to 40 years old, and between 5 feet 8 inches and 6 feet tall. He was driving a green car, possibly a Saturn or Jetta, with tinted windows.

Anyone with information on the man can call Charleston police at 720-2487 or Crime Stoppers at 554-1111.